After eating roughly a hundred Michelin stars around the world, my usual take on LA fine dining has been: the plating is often very competent, but the soul is frequently out of office. Then I went back to Firstborn twice within three months. This newly listed 2025 tasting menu spot actually made me feel a little hopeful about LA fine dining again. The shiso with razor clam and beef cheek cochon, and the black cod with green Sichuan pepper mala noodles, are both full-on collisions between deep animal savoriness and sharp, vivid spice. Then dishes like roasted artichoke and morel stuffed with green peas bring the seasonality into clear focus. The menu is not huge, but every dish has a defined structure and a bold sense of movement. On paper, it reads a little mysterious and intimidating; once you eat it, everything suddenly makes perfect sense, and honestly, it gets addictive. The ingredient selection and handling are also seriously thoughtful. Take the aged duck main course. I am very much a "if there is duck on the fine dining menu, I'm ordering it" person, and I've had plenty of beautifully rich, tender duck breasts. But Firstborn's version, beyond being tender and luscious, had that Cantonese sense of "gan xiang" -- the sweet, savory aroma you get from naturally air-dried, aged meats. For a second, I had this flashback to going with my family as a kid to Xing Fu Lou in Wenquan for Lutian cured meats during winter solstice. Absurdly good. Calling it the Duck King of the West Coast does not feel excessive. On my second visit, the truffle and wild mushroom "gnudi" was also excellent. The moment it hit the table, that intense truffle aroma made me think of the deep, earthy punch of French Périgord black truffle. But then I thought, wait, where are they getting Périgord in June? Turns out they were using Australian winter truffle, perfectly in season. That sourcing logic is smart. It is not expensive for the sake of being expensive; it actually understands the flavor window. The fire-grilled lamb saddle on the second visit was just as strong. It preserved the soft, tender texture of the cut without losing that sweet, milky lamb flavor. Grilled over open flame to a rosy medium rare, the flavor, doneness, and ingredient choice all landed. To me, a great restaurant comes down to three things: concept, ingredients, and seasoning. Some fine dining places love making everything complicated, stacking seven or eight ingredients together, serving a dozen-plus courses, and by the end you feel exhausted and sleepy. Firstborn is the opposite. It is unconventional, but from amuse-bouche to dessert, every dish explains its own logic clearly. Final feeling after the meal: addictive, interesting, and absolutely worth coming back for. read more

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Services were very good. All the servers are very attentive and explain every dishes and drinks in great detail. But some of the dishes are very so so. I think I want to say, it doesn't taste normal. Maybe it is good and special for some people, but my party don't really enjoy the interesting taste and the non-alcoholic drink which I order tastes very weird, which I can't finish it- even it is just like 1-2oz? My friend's cocktail tastes very so so too. The restaurant is nice and clean. We were there to celebrate a birthday, but we didn't know the restaurant doesn't have any candles. They didn't offer to sing a birthday song or anything for us. I really don't think we will come back again. Not recommended. read more

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Firstborn is almost shockingly good for Chinatown, whose hip arriviste eateries have all seemed to coast on far more hype than quality. The menu is New American with Chinese influences served as a four-course prix fixe set, with each course having three choices, and optional additions are available. (There is an à la carte menu available in the bar area.) I went very carnivorous on my selections, choosing the beef tongue carpaccio, duck sausage, and beef short rib. There was not a bad dish among these: The tongue was tender, soft, and delicate. The duck sausage was fantastically good as well; served with an apple jam atop Swiss chard, it was a sort of Chinese-Alpine fusion cuisine of which I never envisioned but instantly wanted more. While delicious, the short rib was overshadowed by its cabbage accompaniment. My server told me it takes four days to make that dish, and I would have happily ordered a full dish of just that. The kaffir lime curd dessert was light and balanced, perfect after the heavier meat courses and like a small vacation to Thailand on a plate. The one dish I did not love was the Chongqing fried chicken course I added. The chicken itself ― a boneless leg quarter ― was a large portion and well-prepared, but the sauce covering it was a thick layer of chilis (which, thankfully, were not inedibly hot) and straight oil, lots of oil. Eating so much oil like that made for gastrointestinal discomfort the rest of the night. The soy pickles helped cut the greasiness a bit, but they weren't vinegary enough to get that level of oiliness off the palate. The duck fat rice, though quite good, also did not help much given its fattiness. Given the chance, I definitely would have requested the oil-sauce on the side. I did appreciate the crunchiness of the batter, which never went soggy despite being soaked in that oily puddle for a long time. I did not find any wines by the glass that bowled me over, so I stuck to cocktails, which were good. Service was warm, personable but not intrusive, and brisk, while the room has the comfortable feel of a mid-century modern den complete with well-worn cookbooks on the shelves lining the walls. I would happily return to try the bar menu with cocktails or when the prix fixe options change. At $68 for four courses, Firstborn's prix fixe is one of the best fine dining offers in L.A. right now, and it makes a trek up to Chinatown worthwhile. read more

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We took our firstborn friend out for her birthday dinner, which coincidentally was the actual restaurant's birthday. And we had a grand ole time. Each three of us ordered one item each from the pre fixe menu (at an absolutely steal btw) and the items were a flavormaxxing (our running joke of the night haha) bomb of Asian cultures. I ordered several fish based items that were light and filling, and accompanied it with a non alcoholic drink that tasted like tootsie rolls. The duck fat rice was super umami and it helped augment the flavors of my dishes. Lastly the dessert was a dream. Fruity and fragrant and light enough to eat. Don't let their name fool you- make this restaurant not only a first but many visits. read more

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First time customers. Had dinner last night with the family. For the the price of the pre-fix menu, I believe it was worth it. Food is to our liking. Ambiance is simple and inviting. Attentive staff. read more

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I had a nice drink on a weekday evening. The two bartenders were skilled, kind, and attentive. The bar and reading nook are perfect for a cozy, candlelit conversation. My favorite menu item was the Szechuan fried chicken. The spice was addictive. I would come back if I were in the area for another art event or to meet a friend after work. This day I ordered the Sunchoke & Date cocktail for $20. After tax, tip, and kitchen fee it was $26.21. read more

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Inside Chinatown's Mandarin Plaza sits firstborn with indoor and patio seating. This is a 4-course prix fixe menu, coming out to $68/person, before taxes and fees. I've come here two times - with a 5:30 p.m. reservation - and enjoyed the food, service, and ambiance. Pro-tip #1: Do not get their bread & butter starter; it is an absolute waste of money - a mate of mine went only to find out that it is a literal small smear of butter. The price is outrageous at $6 for 3 small pieces of bread and $5 for that butter smear - I promise you, this is not worth your money whatsoever. The first time I came here, we got bar seating and shared everything: 0. DRINKS & AMUSE-BOUCHE 0.1. Hojicha Milk Punch: Kettl Fuuka Hojicha, Cara Cara Orange Zest + Juice - $16 I do not recommend this - all I tasted was the yoghurt. 0.2. Celery root blini, creme fraiche, N25 ossetra caviar, reduction of apple and black vinegar - $15 A little too much apple reduction & balsamic vinegar, but otherwise, 8/10 - a little more caviar would be good. 1. COURSE 1: APPETISER 1.1. Wagyu Beef Tongue Carpaccio: Fermented kohlrabi, mala vinaigrette, arugula I didn't get the appeal of the Wagyu beef tongue - I have a lot of lengua (tongue) tacos and this honestly tasted like every other tongue I've had. The mala vinaigrette was gorgeously mouth-tingly, but I could have done with a little bit more kohlrabi and arugula; after a bite, I did feel a little heavy; despite it being a muscle, it doesn't taste anything iron-y like liver would. 1.2. Trout Tartare: Oro blanco, preserved chilies, jasmine Oh so absolutely fresh - I loved that I could taste the jasmine in a subtle manner & it was balanced perfectly with just the right amount of spicy kick from the preserved chillies, with the citrus juice from the oro blanco truly making this such a stellar "spring" dish with the trout. The gelee jasmine that was served was the right amount of tartiness with the oro blanco that I had knew I had to come back a second time to have it again. 2. COURSE 2: APPETISER 2.1. Duck Sausage en Crépinette: Apple condiment, red braised daikon, swiss chard It's a hefty, single (but not fatty or heavy) meatball and I personally found you only need a little bit of the condiment as it's sweet. 2.2. Stuffed Morels: Tofu and mushroom parfait, young peas, green garlic, buddha's hand This. This is the SINGLE dish that I would get again and again. It was such a fresh, refreshing, light, citrus-y, mildy chewy dish, perfectly balanced with young peas & green garlic. 3. COURSE 3: ENTREE 3.1. Grilled Short Rib: Black garlic, cabbage and leek terrine, yuxiang, pepper jus So rich, but not heavy; almost like it was a mole sauce - the beef was super tender. 3.2. Roasted Local Fish: Preserved mustard, green Sichuan, fennel, glass noodles Delicious, fresh, and light. 4. COURSE 4: DESSERT 4.1. Vanilla Sponge: Red bean, oolong, blackcurrent, blackberry Light sponge, delicous sauce; well made and not-too-sweet - a high compliment. 4.2. Lime Leaf Curd: Cashew, coconut, white chocolate This literally took me back to my childhood in Southeast Asia - I absolutely loved - LOVED - the strong lime leaf flavour, paired with the --Loved the seafood dishes because everything I got was fresh, citrus-y and light dishes; the meat dishes were a little heavier in the mouthfeel & sweeter due to the sauces they came with. The second time, we did patio seating & shared everything, except the last dish: 0. DRINKS 0.1. Oaxacan Old Fashioned: Agua Del Sol Espadin, Empirical Ayuuk, Be Bright Alo Faficho Natural, Fresh Passionfruit, Mole Bitters, Orange Coin Strong and well-made; definitely recommend. 0.2. Lacto Blueberry Fizz: Seedlip Grove, Lacto-Fermented Blueberries, Lemon, Soda - $14 Refreshing; good non-alcoholic option. 1. COURSE 1: APPETISER 1.1. Wagyu Beef Tongue Carpaccio 1.2. Trout Tartare 2. COURSE 2: APPETISER 2.1. Duck Sausage en Crépinette 2.2. Stuffed Morels 3. COURSE 3: ENTREE 3.1. Dry-aged Liberty Duck (for 2): Oolong-scented chestnut purée, grilled cauliflower, blackberries We got our own plate with duck and it so well made with a crispy skin and tender duck meat, paired perfectly with the chestnut purée. This is a must order - having tried other items from that course, I strongly recommend it. 4. COURSE 4: DESSERT 4.1. Vanilla Sponge: Red bean, oolong, blackcurrent, blackberry 4.2. Banana Pudding: Rum gel, tonka cream, brown butter Awesome crunch; lovely, thick gel texture; yummy butteryness. Service was great - attentive, not-too-talkative or hovering, and consistent. I do recommend, like others, coming earlier - with a reservation - because after 6 p.m., they get extremely busy and packed. You can park in the parking lot that this building is in for $10 (cash) or you can try to find street parking anywhere in Chinatown - depending on the day, you might get lucky. Pro-tip #2: There is a 3% service charge added to each bill, but you can ask for it to be removed, otherwise factor that into your tip. read more

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My partner and I had an incredible dining experience at Firstborn. The food was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The highlights of the night were the celery root blini with crème fraîche and Ossetra caviar, the trout tartare, the duck sausage, and the grilled short ribs. And a special shoutout to the fried boneless chicken leg -- it was goddamn delicious! The wine list is exciting. It has some hard-to-find aged bottles. We scored a bottle of 2007 François Cotat Sancerre. Cotat is one of the most iconic Sancerre producers, and because his wines are built to age, finding a 2007 vintage on the menu here was a massive treat. While we didn't dive into the proper cocktail menu, my partner ordered the non-alcoholic Hojicha Orange Milk Punch, which was phenomenal, and judging by how beautiful the drinks at neighboring tables looked, I'd assume their cocktail program is strong. Service was stellar. Lisa, who helped us navigate the wine list, was lovely! She was incredibly generous, offering us a few complimentary pours of other wines to taste. Will definitely revisit to try other menu items and their cocktails! read more

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Firstborn is located inside of Chinatown's Mandarin Plaza, which has its own parking structure that costs $5. The restaurant is fairly low key -- dim lights, a small bar area, and on the quieter side. It's a small plate situation so my friend and I got 5 dishes. Everything tasted great and I especially enjoyed the warm honeynut squash and the chongqing fried chicken. The rice is made with duck fat but I don't taste much of a difference, so that's the only thing I'd skip on. Service is very attentive and friendly. read more

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This place is a. Hidden gem in china town When I first discovered it they had just been opened 1 days I came back few months later to grab a drink and service is great, Great drinks and got to only try out Duck fat rice and cocktails I plan to come back for dinner was already impressed too bad my stomach was fill for any other meals read more

Firstborn - Chinese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Firstborn is a cute and aesthetic spot located in Chinatown. Perfect for a night out with friends or date night. We were able to snag free street parking about 2 blocks away, but otherwise it looks like mostly metered parking. We arrived for our 6:30 reservation on a Friday evening and the place was nearly empty. But once 7 PM hit, the tables were packed. They unveiled their DineLA menu a bit early but we wanted to try more options and the DineLA menu didn't have what we were looking for. Amongst two, we shared the clam gnocchi, sweet potatoes, fried chicken, BBQ cabbage, and beef short rib, as well as the ginger cookie for dessert. I got a Paloma drink, which had a Szechuan numbing spice aspect to it but was otherwise pretty simple (not sure if it was worth the price tag of around $18-20, but this is LA). I thought the food was good, with some standouts and others not extremely memorable in my opinion. I personally thought the sweet potatoes were ok. They didn't feel like anything I was rushing to order again. The clam gnocchi I was quite looking forward to trying, but found to be mostly salty and one dimensional. It had some crunchy bites, which I liked, and would've wanted more of. And the clams were lacking, too. Also, sadly, the texture of the gnocchi wasn't doing it for me. Things improved with the fried chicken and BBQ cabbage. The fried chicken is excellent. Great crispiness and loved the chili oil. No complaints. The serving is also quite large with 5 big pieces, including 2 large drumsticks. The cabbage was also nice and tender with good flavor. By this point in the meal I was actually pretty full, so our previous dishes would have been plenty for 2 people if you're trying to stay a bit more budget friendly, as the short rib, our entree, was $65 or so. The dish had good flavor, was tender, and felt like a reasonable portion. We opted for that instead of the duck and I think it was a fair choice, though I would be curious to see how it compares. The ginger cookie dessert was a nice finishing touch. I liked the various components and thought it had some fun textures and good balance of flavor. It felt different than other desserts I've had before. Service was stellar - our waitress was very helpful, friendly, and checked in many times. Dishes were changed out each course and our table cleaned. Overall, pretty good experience! I might return in the future to try the duck, but otherwise I think I checked this one off the list. read more

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I'm back y'all -- with another review, mkay mkayyy So boom, my homegirl just had a birthday (shoutout to her! ), and she wanted to try something new, so we scurried over to this spot. They offer a prix fixe menu with optional add-ons, and baby... they did what needed to be done. We started with the fried boneless leg of chicken with morita chili crisp jus and soy pickles -- and this? A strong start. Course 1: Trout tartare, oro blanco, preserved chilies, jasmine Super refreshing and honestly tasted way better than it looked (no shade ). Course 2: Duck sausage en crépinette, apple condiment, red braised daikon, Swiss chard I was really looking forward to this one because I love duck, and it did not disappoint. Course 3: Grilled short rib, black garlic, cabbage and leek terrine, yuxiang, pepper jus Now THIS... the short rib was everything I needed it to be. Succulent, flavorful, and cooked just right. Dessert: I'm not even gonna hold you... I don't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember it being good The service was great too -- our server was knowledgeable and really knew the menu, which I always appreciate. If you're in the area, definitely stop by and show them some love. P.S. We Ubered, so I can't confidently speak on parking... but wishing you luck if you drive read more

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Everything tasted interesting and adventurous. Almost nothing tasted yummy. The dish that came closest was the Vanilla Sponge dessert. Despite the dull description, the four layers offered different, complimentary flavors and textures. My companions liked the artichokes appetizer, duck sausage and duck breast. But my overwhelming sense of the dishes was that they were meant to impress, but not necessarily to be enjoyed. And I didn't. read more

Firstborn - Chinese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great place, great service, very delicious food! Located in China town - doesn't look like much outside, but when you walk in, the ambiance is cozy and chique. Our waiter, Daniel, was very informative, went over the menu and answered all our questions- Making it easy for us to decide between all the options. We ordered 9 dishes and 3 desserts - perfect for our table of 4 - we walked out STUFFED and well worth it. Portions and prices were good for what we ordered. Everything was sooo good and had an umami-ness to it. My favorites were the wagyu tongue (tasted a little like pho), sweet potatoes ( would come back and order 2 next time), BBQ cabbage, egg custard, Fried Chicken (I've never had that crunch before!), their duck fat rice, and their ginger cookies for dessert! *You cannot go wrong with anything you order on the menu, Highly recommend making reservations! 10 out of 10 for me! Enjoy. read more

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Four of us went to Firstborn for dinner. Firstborn features a prix fixe menu, with the option to add a couple of dishes and bread. The cost is $68 for four courses. A 3% service charge is added to each bill. The food was delicious. Each of the four courses offered three dishes: one meat, one fish, and one vegetarian. They were flavorful. The dishes are small, so you have room for all four courses. Standouts were the trout tartare and beef short rib. They have an extensive, expensive wine and liquor list. The biggest disappointment was their supposedly heralded bread and butter. $6 for 3 small pieces of bread, and $5 for a small smear of butter. Definitely not worth the price. Our server was friendly, but couldn't provide details on how the dishes were prepared. The dining room is all hard surfaces, so it's noisy. Nearby parking is available for $10. We'd like to return when they change the menu. read more

The food was absolutely delish there were some misses for me just based on my taste preference. Wasn't a fan of the pumpkin just because it wasn't what I expected but also not mad about it. Service was great, would recommend coming earlier when opening because when it gets busy it gets busy. Overall great when it comes to coursing food and swapping plates. Servers are soft spoken and it echos inside, so me being partially deaf was struggling a bit. Ambiance was beautiful, subtle, minimal but clean. Overall felt like someone's home in the best way possible (straight out of magazine). 9/10 rating. Price for 3 with two cocktails and 8 dishes (two not pictured) read more

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I was Firstborn for dinner on Sunday night. I would definitely make sure to make reservations because it got pretty packed as I was leaving. I got seated in a pretty spacious, but I will say the restaurant is pretty small so there is tight seating. We asked our server for a few recommendations and opted for the following: 1. Heirloom tomatoes - probably my least favorite of the night. I thought it was a little overwhelming with too much sauce. I would probably skip this next time. 2. Fish collar - this was the special for the night. The portions were generous and the collar was cooked perfectly. Definitely a must order. 3. Mapa tofu - also delicious. It wasn't super overwhelming with the numbness. And the beef was delicious in the dish. 4. Fried chicken - I saw many reviews on this dish so I knew I had to get it. It was so good. The fry on the chicken was perfect, the chicken was juicy. I also brought a breast home and it was still good and not soggy. Definitely a must get. 5. Clams - I thought this dish would be good and although the flavors were decent, the clams were slightly fishy tasting to me. But, I can see tons of potential to this. I am definitely going to come here again. I know that the menu is seasonal, so would try other dishes. Next time, I might also sit at the bar because it looked pretty nice. read more

I'm rooting for Firstborn to succeed. Right now, I think they're still working out their flow but the soul and passion is all there. I will definitely come back once a new seasonal menu drops. First off, I had a pleasant dining experience but I was unfortunately seated outside. I wished we were inside to experience their curated ambiance, but sitting outside for a nice meal like this felt second-rate. I can only assume this happened because Steep was hosting an event outside and they tactically wanted passerbys to see us. To me, the highlight was the cocktails. Kenzo, the bar director, was recently at Steep (located in the same plaza) and I fucking love their drinks. Everything is tastefully crafted and there's an extreme level of refinement. My only warning is that some drinks are very boozey and I was surprised at how hard they were hitting. Super good, though. Anyways - I ALMOST ordered the pre-determined Dine LA menu, but I decided to venture off and order my own things. My favorite was a surprise: the tofu dumplings. The texture and broth reminded me of some very good homemade mashed potatoes, which is something I didn't think I'd enjoy so much. The BBQ cabbage was awesome - nice flavor and char, but there's more to be desired since that is exactly what it is - cabbage. Next up, we had a melon "salad" which was very good, although was a little more sour than I'd wanted. It lacked a sweetness that would have made it feel more refreshing. The aged duck breast was great, but the sauce was a little too sweet. In addition, the duck was very heavy and I felt like the duck fat rice only made it more difficult. Feels like it needs another side dish to complement the richness. I will admit: this experience is based on items I thought were interesting to try. They're known for the Chongqing fried chicken, but I felt a little weird ordering that here. I wished I had ordered another refreshing side. The service was impeccable, though. Our server guided us through the entire menu with expertise and Kenzo even came out to make sure we enjoyed our drinks. All things considered, I think there's something missing that would bring them to the next step. It's very good, but I'm looking for something on their menu that will make it impeccable. I still recommend a visit - I love Chinatown, and I love how much energy Firstborn is bringing to this plaza. read more

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I was so excited to try First Born but ended up a little disappointed. They don't serve cocktails, and the wine list was pretty limited. I also didn't realize how often their menu changes, so the dishes I'd picked out online ahead of time weren't available when we arrived. We sat outside, and since it's in a strip mall, the vibe was very casual. I never saw the inside of the restaurant. Our starters were amazing, but most of the mains were just okay -- except for the fried chicken, which was incredible. The highly recommended duck fat rice, however, was so plain we actually had to ask if it was the right dish or just plain white rice. For the price, I wouldn't go back. read more

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I saw this restaurant pop up on Eater and YouTube and was interested in trying it. It's a newer spot, located in the northern part of Chinatown in LA. I would say that the prix fixe menu is worth a try, if you're even remotely curious about trying anything on their menu. The options are solid, and the price point is modest for an upscale dinner. I think the courses were good overall, and the flavors were generally interesting. I will also say that I didn't think there was much in the way that will really blow you away, if you've dabbled in a decent amount of finer dining. The interior decor is nice. The bathroom is nice. Both are what you'd expect from a higher end place, and I think they reflect that this is a going to be a trendy spot for diners who want to splurge a little bit without breaking the bank. Service is attentive and pleasant. I have no complaints. The parts of the dishes that stood out most to me were the cabbage and leek terrine (from the Grilled Short Rib dish) and the red braised daikon (from the duck sausage dish). On recommendation from my server, I had the Hojicha Milk Punch, which was definitely more of a taste of oolong and green tea rather than any sort of milk or punch. It mostly just tasted like tea. While pleasant, I do not think I would get it again, as I look for a more interesting taste for a $16 mocktail. My least favorite parts of the dinner, though not bad at all per se, were the sourdough and duck fat rice supplements that I decided to also try on top of the four prix fixe courses. The sourdough and butter were pleasant, although I did not feel as if it was special versus other bread and butter I have had at other establishments. The duck fat rice was truly underwhelming and ultimately just tastes like ... rice, with a hint of oily chicken broth flavor (even if it is duck fat). From what my server told me, the menu is supposedly going to be rotated out every few months to keep things fresh. I may visit again if I see a menu that catches my eye. read more

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What an adventure for my taste buds. I love it when a restaurant pairs creativity with quality. The dishes here are a little hard to describe because they're so unique. Y'all just have to try for yourself haha. Wagyu beef tongue- this is more of a salad. I promise there's some tender beef tongue under all that arugula. Duck sausage- the sausage is what you'd imagine it to taste like but the sauce is the star of the show. Corn congee- if elote and congee had a baby. Perfect blend of sweet and savory Egg custard- the texture is like Chinese steamed egg or chawanmushi. The tomato reminded me of the classic Chinese egg and tomato stir fry dish. So creative and so delicious Chongqing chicken- this might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. I can't find a single flaw with it. Crispy batter that's also light, juicy, flavorful, just the right amount of mala. I got the baijiu Negroni. I can definitely taste the baijiu but it was not overpowering. read more

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Really outstanding modern take on Chinese cuisine. They apparently change their menu every week so nothing is old. Their service was great and their servers were very knowledgeable. Their drinks also stood out in terms of creativity and the amount of work that goes into them. Overall, I put this on par with Baroo in terms of creativity, service and flavor. read more

I've seen mixed reviews about this place, but I'm so glad I gave it a try--my entire experience was exceptional! This is a new Chinese-American restaurant located in the Mandarin Plaza in Chinatown. First off, the space is beautiful, with a stylish bar and both indoor and outdoor seating. We started the evening with cocktails, and they were great--meticulously crafted and full of flavor. I was especially blown away by their take on the Midori Sour. I'm usually not a fan of Midori Sours, but this one is made with fresh melon juice that was perfectly refreshing for the summer weather. Every dish we ordered was a hit: melon & cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, bbq cabbage, fried chicken, and corn congee were all standouts. It's rare to visit a restaurant and enjoy every single dish, but this place delivered. The textures were playful, the flavors were balanced, and you could tell the chef showed real restraint--nothing was overdone. It was sophisticated, thoughtful, and most importantly, delicious. read more

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Oh man, I woke up still thinking about that corn congee!! It has the corniest (in a good way haha) flavor, nuttiness from the hazelnuts, herby from the cilantro, and OMG it was spectacular. The most delicious, elevated congee I have ever had. Meanwhile, my man woke up still thinking about that fried chicken!! Thicc crisp, juicy insides, but not greasy, my favorite sauce, chili crisp, on top. Oh boy. Dreamy. Everything else was absolutely wonderful - the melon & cucumber with sesame oil that sets it over the top, the tomatoes with its fragrant jelly, the duck fat rice with its slight meatiness. Oh, and the dumplings, THE DUMPLINGS. My goodness, were those things a gift. I have stars in my eyes just thinking about them. The only thing that didn't hit for either of us was the cabbage, which is weird bc it's a signature dish everyone raves about, but I found it had too much chili powder for my taste and didn't work well with the sauce. But whatever, neither of us cared bc everything else was so dang good. And to top it all off, the corn pie and chamomile (!!) cracker/ice/custard thing were so unique in the best way possible, not overly sweet, floral, and the perfect cap to what is easily my favorite meal of the year so far. We were already listing all the things we'd get when we come back:). read more

Firstborn - Melon & cucumber - Chinese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I must write a glowing review before they switch to a pre-fixe format. I think that Firstborn is a really wonderful addition to the elevated Asian food scene in Chinatown LA. The ambience and hospitality are just really amazing. I checked in for my reservation, but my table was not quite ready, so they ushered me to a nice bar seating area where I could start with a drink and wait. DRINKS  The cocktails were good, but surprisingly unmemorable as I look back on my pictures. I know that the bar director here has many accolades in his craft. I think the cocktails were really good, and that is what originally drew me to Firstborn, but I cannot draw any major highlights. I did get a N/A mocktail to try as it sounded intriguing, I got the Hojicha Orange Milk Punch, which was a very interesting drink. I spent my whole meal trying to decide if I liked it or not. I would say that I did. I've never had anything like it and it was exactly what it advertised itself to be. I would recommend trying it as a fun beverage! FOOD Wagyu Beef Tongue - This was a great start to the meal! It was a very light rendition of beef tongue. The mala flavor was fragrant, and the whole dish was made fresh by the arugula and the kohlrabi. Salt & Pepper Squid - My favorite dish of the night! I loved the slight unctuousness from the squid ink. It was so wonderfully seasoned as well. It was everything that you hoped from the nostalgic taste of salt & pepper seafood from your local Chinese restaurant, but refined to make it punchy and balanced. BBQ Cabbage - I am absolutely loving the new trend of charred cabbage dishes at restaurants. I order them everywhere I go, but the Firstborn version is definitely still a standout. The leek vinaigrette was so oniony, and it gave the dish a nice intrigue. Mapo Tofu - The use of sweetbreads here was genius. It gave the dish such a beautiful richness. Everything about the dish was velvety, and was a beautiful entree to share over rice.  Aged Liberty Duck Breast - They told me I got the last one of the night, and I am so glad I did! The duck breast was cooked PERFECTLY with crispy skin and juicy meat. The pairing of seasonal persimmon was just a beautiful complement to the dish as well. Overall, everything at Firstborn was very good, and I would highly recommend checking it out for date night. I don;t know what their set menu situation is going to look like, but I am excited for them to be able to showcase the dishes they are most proud of. I think in making traditional Chinese dishes and ingredients approachable in the fine(ish) dining format, sometimes diners have to be forced into trying things as part of a set menu. I am in full support of this transition and I am excited to try more! I hope you are too. read more

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Had dinner at First Born in Chinatown last night. We were a party of five, sat outside with our two pups,, and everything about the night was great. Daniel was our server and he was great. Attentive, friendly, and made the experience easy. We shared a bunch of dishes. Spiced carrot salad, wagyu beef tongue, Japanese sweet potato's, BBQ cabbage, fried Chongqing chicken, short rib, aged Liberty duck breast, and duck fat rice. Every plate was thoughtful, bold, and full of flavor. This is the kind of place you go when you want something creative that actually delivers. Would absolutely come back. read more

Firstborn - Sausage - Chinese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I tried Firstborn for a fancier dinner down in Chinatown! Definitely make a reservation so you don't have to wait long to be sat. Before you sit at the table, there's a small lounge area next to the bar where you can order drinks. The host was very accommodating, however, the service was lackluster and other tables definitely got more attention than us. I tried the Melon & Cucumber, Wagyu Beef Tongue, Peach Glazed Pork Ribs, Duck Sausage, and Fried Chongqing Chicken! My favorite was the Melon & Cucumber which was very refreshing and left me wanting more. Everything else was good and I would get the Duck Sausage and Chongqing Chicken again. read more

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The restaurant was beautiful, loved the vibe and atmosphere, every detail was thought out. There was also a good mocktail menu which I really appreciate. The wagyu beef tongue was good, accompanied well by the mala dressing (numbing, but not spicy) and the kohlrabi (reminded me of pickled radish). Super refreshing. The tofu dumplings were really unique-- I've never tried anything like it. The soup was soo flavorful and made this my favorite dish of the meal. I wish the tofu dumplings had some sort of stuffing or was seasoned a bit more. Chongqing chicken was popular online so I had to try that. The skin was so crunchy and was cooked perfectly. Flavor was lacking a bit, not exactly the traditional flavor and I wish it was more salty. The aged duck breast was okay, with the sauce carrying the dish. I wish the dish was accompanied with some veggies for balance. Overall the food was okay, but I do see myself coming back for the atmosphere and service. read more

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Loved the vibe and food. They are definitely taking a different approach on what Chinese food can be. Not to mention that they have a 4 course tasting menu for only $70. Go with a group and get one of everything. Loved it and will be back. Drinks were creative and delish as well!!!! read more

Newish, posh restaurant inside the once-dead Mandarin Plaza in Chinatown LA. It's pretty lively now thanks to this spot and the hugely popular tea shop Steep right next door. Parking is not free anywhere here, which sucks for everyone except the city. Not sure if reservations are required, but it's recommended as this is a popular spot. Inside is dimly lit and slightly minimalist in decor. If you're able to, make sure you opt for the outdoor patio seating as it'll put you right in the middle of the plaza where you can people watch. It's like a fashion show over here. Menu is modern Chinese, some of it will be familiar, some not - for me, at least. Everything is served family style. Staff is attentive and helpful. Pricing is on the steep end. Here's what we ordered: - Wagyu Beef Tongue - 8.3/10: delicious, decadent app. Loved the flavors. Tongue came in bite-sized pieces and cooked perfectly. Had this smokey flavor to them. - Salanova salad - 8/10: nice palette cleanser. Tarty dressing. Fresh, crisp greens, and nice portions of mushroom ears to mix up the textures. Enough for two. - Fried Chongqing Chicken - 6/10: this was highly recommended by the server and many Yelpers. Unfortunately, it didn't cut it for me. Four large legs and thighs come in a plate. All the pieces are drizzled and infused with generous portions of chili oil. Inside, the meat was tender and juicy. But the breading was just way too hard. Unreasonably hard. It was like cracking open a walnut to get to the meat. Duck Breast - 7/10: duck was perfectly cooked. Skin was crisp and the meat was tender and juicy. Accompanying potato side was just a bit too much as it seems they were needlessly soaked in duck fat. Just too much of one flavor note. Dish overall could've probably used more acidity and sweetness. Desserts - 5/10: decided to try all three offerings - almond tofu, some kind of corn pie and something that had a drizzle of jalapeño juice and reminded me of tapioca pudding. They all had weird flavors, especially the almond tofu. It really didn't taste like almond tofu as it seems like they infused it with too much of this flowery, weird sauce. Would I come back? For the ambience and view, yes, but I'd try some of their cocktails and be a little more conservative with the other items. read more

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We made reservations by calling them for a table of 6, it was hard to make reservations on the website for more than 4 but the receptionist was so helpful on the phone. The food was good, the lamb and fried chicken were bomb! We sat outdoors since we had our kiddos, it was nice. The waiter was great. read more

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Absolutely delicious food!!! Went there for Valentines day date! Had the Valentines day dinner menu plus champagne of course! Caviar blinis was perfect combo with champagne! I called it the mini caviar pancakes!! Had to order more! Hehe And the ginger cookie dessert was perfect as well! read more

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The interior is pretty, but while the serving sizes were very generous, the dishes we got were very hit or miss. The fermented tofu caesar, japanese sweet potato salad, tofu dumplings and chongqing chicken were all very very good. Both salads and the tofu dumplings were standouts and must gets. The rest of the dishes were okay, the duck breast was well cooked but just okay, the bbq cabbage was innovative but very salty and too pickled, the gnocchi was also very salty, and the pumpkin congee was too sweet and poorly executed. The martini was delicious, and if I were to come again I would probably just get the few dishes that were good and a martini and skip all the other mains. Overall great service and decent experience, but the number of dishes that did end up disappointing were a little too many for comfort. read more

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This place is still a little under the radar, but that can't last, it should blow up. Second favorite meal of the year so far. We started with the very simply named "Sour" and "Paloma" cocktails; I the Szechuan peppercorns in the Paloma let you know they're taking risks that pay off big time. They recommend a bunch of dishes to share, and that's definitely the smart play. First dishes were corn congee (really rich and filled with umami), the duck sausage (so tender), and the BBQ cabbage, which might have been my favorite dish of the night. Charred cabbage, who would imagine it could be so good? The fish collar special was ok although maybe a little underwhelming. But things picked up again with the beef fat rice (GET THIS), sweet & sour sweetbreads. A rich and beefy Zhajiang Oxtail finished the main service. We finished with the Cherry Frangipane Tart...I could have skipped this, TBH. Nothing wrong with it, just not up to the standard of the other dishes. P.S. Somewhere in there I ordered the Lamb Fat Rob Roy. I repeat LAMB FAT Rob Roy. Heck yeah! read more

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We were able to get a 5.30 reservation on a Saturday night via Resy. Snagged some street parking. All of our dishes were excellent. We started off with the two best dishes of the night. The cabbage- I can honestly say I have never tried a dish quite like this. It is beautifully assembled dish. The egg custard with the tomatoes - very different from your classic dish. The duck sausage - oh wow the flavors of the green apple and sauce with the sausage, just divine. The chicken- I was on the fence about ordering this because of the mixed reviews, some had said the chicken wasn't well seasoned etc. that wasn't the case today. The chicken was seasoned beautifully inside and that skin- possibly the crispiest skin I've ever tried on fried chicken. It was delightful. And it's a hearty portion. Don't let the chilies or oil around it fool you. It wasn't spicy. The tofu dumplings -this dish didn't wow me like the rest. Don't get me wrong it was good, Just not as good as the others. I love tofu and I've never had a tofu dumpling. It was lovely with the mushrooms. For dessert we had the custard thing with the apple granita. It was also very good though I think it needed a little less granita. The ratio of granita to custard was a little too much. Our server was new so he wasn't a lot of help on the dishes. He needed to be a little bit more attentive to our table. The other servers made up for it though. All very friendly. Decor is modern and sleek. They have the cutest water glasses. I appreciated how many times they gave us fresh plates and cutlery between courses. I wasn't as excited by the cocktails. It was okay. I tried the non alcoholic milk punch and it was pretty good. Definitely recommend this place. read more

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Firstborn is such a special spot tucked into Chinatown. Everything we ordered was creative, beautifully presented, and genuinely delicious. You can tell the kitchen puts a lot of care and intention into each dish--everything felt thoughtful and well-executed. * Steak tartare - One of my favorites. Loved the mapo tofu-style seasoning with bits of puffed rice for a crunch here and there. Definitely recommend ordering the beef fat rice on the side--it paired perfectly. * Cherry tomatoes - Super refreshing and light, I enjoyed the gelatin that was involved in the dish. * Duck sausage - Wrapped in tofu skin, which was such a cool touch. Great presentation and flavor. * BBQ cabbage - Charred beautifully. * Fried Chongqing Chicken - Crispy, flavorful, and seasoned all the way through. You can taste the efforts gone into marination. * Chamomile custard - Light and refreshing with green apple and cucumber, and the kinako shortbread added a nice buttery crunch. * Strawberry dessert - Beautifully plated, with a cashew biscuit that tied it all together. Loved every bite. The drinks were spirit-forward, high quality, and thoughtfully crafted--not overly sweet, just really well balanced. Service was incredibly friendly and attentive the whole night. The ambiance was bright, warm, and inviting with beautiful wall art painted by a local Chinatown artist that added such a personal touch to the space. Already looking forward to coming back and trying more--this place is a win. read more

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I was excited to try firstborn and it exceeded our expectations. We opened with the mushrooms and mapo tofu steak tartare-- both are must orders. The fried chicken lived up to the hype our waitress described and the cocktails paired perfectly with our meal. The stand out for me was the oxtail + beef fat rice. 10/10 bite! The outside patio is markedly different from the inside of the restaurant in that it is more cozy-casual than the modern-earthy interior. Nonetheless, the heaters and jazz band playing in the courtyard made for a fun girls night. read more

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We got the cherry tomatoes, duck sausage, carrot congee, BBQ cabbage, steak tartare, and oxtail. The space is really cool and the food is mostly solid. The tomatoes and the tartare were our favorite. The duck sausage initially tasted like pork dumplings and then processed meat - we couldn't really taste the duck, but maybe that's normal? Unfortunately, we sat next to a larger group of 6+ people and they were LOUD. The space itself seemed small with their voices echoing off the kitchen windows with nowhere to bounce but our ears. I'll definitely be back again because their cocktails were delicious, the food made me nostalgic for my Taiwanese roots, and the service was exceptional. Be sure to check out Steep (next door) for great cocktails too!! read more

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Mapo Tofu Steak Tartare 4.5/5 California Vegetable Rice 4/5 BBQ Cabbage 4.5/5 Fried Chongqing Chicken 5/5 Chamomile Custard 5/5 Cocktails 5/5 Service 4.5/5 Atmosphere 4.5/5 Overall 4.5/5 We did a date night at Firstborn on their opening weekend - it was their 3rd day of service. It was busy and the team often apologized regarding the delay, but service was fine after we were seated. It's beautiful inside the restaurant and the ambiance and aesthetic was excellent. Cocktails and mocktails were well balanced. We had the Lacto Blueberry Fizz, Ume Yuzu Last Word, and Shochu Bamboo. We loved all of them! The Mapo Tofu Steak Tartare paired with the California Vegetable Rice had all the essence of my favorite Mapo Tofu dishes but elevated to perfection. The BBQ Cabbage had a delicious leek vinaigrette which paired flawlessly with the grilled cabbage. My favorite dish was the Fried Chongqing Chicken! It was crunchy and succulent, overall superb. The dessert was unique. We had the Chamomile Custard with green apple, cucumber, and shortbread. I definitely need to come back for another date night and try more dishes at Firstborn! read more

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Grateful to have another great restaurant close to where we live! Amazing ambiance in a cozy space- we thought maybe the seating outside on Broadway was theirs, but their patio seating is actually inside the plaza not facing the road, which is great. Vibes were great- good for a date night or a few friends; there was a group of girls who had this constant, piercing cackle, so I guess it's great for getting lit too!! Also, like a previous review said- it seems like seating and pacing reservations need a bit of work. We got seated about 20 minutes past our rsvp time; but it's fine, it's only been a few days since opening day. Our server was helpful in recommending different dishes, how much to order depending how hungry we are, etc. very attentive, very friendly! All the dishes were great too - I definitely recommend getting the congee! We also had the cabbage, mapo tofu, and the tartare- all of which were amazing. We had the strawberry shortcake too and two drinks- a citrus non-alcoholic drink and a negroni, I would order both again. I'm not really that into non-alcoholic drinks but that one my partner got was exceptionally good, he said it tastes like a tootsie roll LOL because of its dark chocolate notes, which tbh is very accurate. Anyway thanks for an amazing experience! Very glad that y'all are in walking distance- would definitely return and bring more friends so we can try the rest of the menu! read more

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